2018 OHL Priority Selection Draft Day Takeaways

The 2018 OHL Priority Selection presented by Real Canadian Superstore saw 300 prospects chosen by 20 OHL member teams. Within the selections are some intriguing facts, figures and connections that we’ll take a closer look at below.

QUICK HITS:

Express stars go 1st and 2nd overall: OMHA Champions Quinton Byfield and Evan Vierling of the York-Simcoe Express led off the OHL Priority Selection at first and second overall, marking the first time two teammates have gone consecutively to open the proceedings since 2012. The last OMHA teammates to be selected first and second overall were the Markham Waxers duo of Steven Stamkos (Sarnia) and Michael Del Zotto (Oshawa) back in 2006.

Five Marlboros taken in first round: The Toronto Marlboros had five different players selected in the first round including Will Cuylle (3rd, Peterborough), Jamie Drysdale (4th, Erie), Lleyton Moore (12th, Niagara), Riley Piercey (16th, Barrie) and Reid Valade (17th, Kitchener).  This marks the highest first round total from one team since the 2012 Toronto Marlboros that featured Connor McDavid (1st, Erie), Roland McKeown (2nd, Kingston), Joshua Ho-Sang (5th, Windsor), Sam Bennett (9th, Kingston), Jeremiah Addison (12th, Saginaw).

Forwards frequented in 2018: Three straight forwards led-off the 2018 OHL Priority Selection and a total of 175 would be selected once all was said and done, the most at the event in the last 10 years. The 33 goaltenders chosen are the most since 2014 while the 92 defencemen taken is the lowest figure in the last 10 years.

Drysdale gives Otters new look: The Erie Otters are understandably excited about the selection of GTHL Player of the Year Jamie Drysdale at fourth overall. The first defenceman selected on Saturday, Drysdale helped lead the Toronto Marlboros to a GTHL title this past season with a smooth stride and 50 points (8-42–50) over 57 games. He’s the highest the Otters have selected a defenceman since taking Mitch Gaulton from the Toronto Red Wings back in 2006.

Troops target local talent: Starting with first round (9th overall) pick Pacey Schlueting, the North Bay Battalion selected five different members of the North Bay Trappers Minor Midgets. The Trappers were crowned champions of the GNML Minor Midget Showcase this past season as other standouts including fourth round pick David Campbell, ninth round pick Jesse Kirkby, 11th round netminder Reece Proulx and 15th round choice Jack Stockfish caught the eye of Battalion brass. Schlueting turned heads this past season with 34 points (13-21–34) over 24 games.

Attack looks to Ottawa region: The Owen Sound Attack doubled up with Ottawa-area talent on their first two selections, taking puck-moving blueliner Nolan Seed of the Smiths Falls Bears Midgets at 15th overall. They selected HEO Midget Player of the Year Josh Barnes of the Cornwall Colts nine picks later in the second round at 24th overall. A native of Newboro, Ont., Seed picked up 25 points (5-20–25) in 41 games with Smiths Falls while also appearing in five games at the Jr. A level. Barnes put up 52 points (26-26–52) in 39 games of Midget hockey before adding five points (3-2–5) in seven games in Jr. A. Seed and Barnes are the first two Ottawa-based players ever chosen by Owen Sound in the opening two rounds of the OHL Priority Selection.

Bulldogs big on OHL Cup goaltending: For the second straight year the Hamilton Bulldogs selected the top goaltender from the OHL Cup powered by Under Armour. After taking tournament all-star team selection Zach Roy of the Toronto Nationals in the fourth round last year, the Dogs picked Vaughan Kings puckstopper Marco Costantini with the fifth round (95th overall) pick. While Roy competed for the CCHL’s Rockland Nationals this past season, Costantini followed in his footsteps by playing every minute of the OHL Cup Showcase, registering a 1.83 goals-against average and .930 save percentage over seven contests.

Steelheads first pick Hardie sets new high for Jr. Colts: The Barrie Jr. Colts have produced some high OHL picks in recent years with Mitchell Russell (Owen Sound Attack) going 20th overall in 2017 and Connor Corcoran (Windsor Spitfires) going 21st overall in 2016. Mississauga Steelheads first round (8th overall) pick James Hardie is the highest pick the program has ever produced. The last Barrie-based player to go as high was goaltender Patrick DesRochers, chosen eighth overall by the Sarnia Sting back in 1995.

Greyhounds re-focus on blue line: General Manager Kyle Raftis and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds turned their attention back to the blue line on Saturday, selecting a defenceman with their first round pick for the first time since 2011. Ryan O’Rourke of the Vaughan Kings was taken with the 20th overall selection, following in the footsteps of former third overall pick Darnell Nurse in providing a competitive, physical presence on the back end. O’Rourke, who was a key competitor in back-to-back OHL Cup Showcases, had 12 goals, 32 assists and 44 points for Vaughan this past season.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS:

The 2018 OHL Priority Selection reminded us that the hockey universe is a small one, with familiar names being selected by clubs this past weekend. Sons, brothers and nephews were all in the mix. Here’s a few prominent examples.

• One of three sets of twins chosen on Saturday, the Ottawa 67’s doubled-up on Tolnai’s, first selecting centreman Cameron Tolnai with the sixth overall pick. The OMHA SCTA Player of the Year helped the Oakville Rangers go undefeated through regular season play with 76 points (29-47–76) over 34 games. Brother Davis Tolnai, a goaltender, was Ottawa’s 15th round (290th overall) pick.
• Another combination saw two go separate ways as aforementioned goaltender Marco Costantini went in the fifth round (95th overall) to the Hamilton Bulldogs while Vaughan Kings teammate Anthony Costantini was chosen a round later, going 106th overall to the Ottawa 67’s. A 5-foot-11 blueliner, Anthony recorded 31 assists over 64 games for Vaughan this past season.
• Twins Simon Labelle and Vincent Labelle went to separate teams, with Simon going in the 10th round (181st overall) to Sudbury while Vincent was selected in the 15th round (294th overall) by London. Both players competed for the HEO Midget Champion Rockland Nationals.
• An age old Western Conference rivalry will only grow in intensity as the Windsor Spitfires selected forward Jean-Luc Foudy with the 10th overall pick. His older brother Liam Foudy, an all-around athlete that has climbed the rankings ahead of the 2018 NHL Draft, has developed into a core performer for the London Knights. Liam was London’s first round (18th overall) pick in the 2016 OHL Priority Selection.
• The Sarnia Sting targeted HPHL scoring leader Jacob Perreault of the Chicago Mission 16U with their first round (19th overall) pick. He’s the son of 14-year NHL veteran Yanic Perreault who posted three consecutive 100-point seasons during his QMJHL days with the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs from 1988-91. The younger Perreault posted 25 points (14-11–25) in 20 games against older competition this past season.
• The Oshawa Generals got things started at 11th overall, taking Vaughan Kings winger Tyler Tullio with their first round pick. Tullio is the son of Generals owner Rocco Tullio who joined the club’s Executive team in September of 2007 and put up big numbers in the GTHL, recording 89 points (38-51–89) over 50 games.
• The Barrie Colts bolstered their strength along the boards with the selection of 6-foot-2.5 winger Riley Piercey of the Toronto Marlboros at 16th overall. Piercey brings a well-rounded game and put up 56 points (26-30–56) in 59 games this past season. He’s the nephew of former North Bay Centennials forward Jamie Piercey (1996-99).
• Two-way centreman Isaac Langdon of the Quinte Red Devils went in the second round (32nd overall) to the Kitchener Rangers. Originally a native of Corner Brook, Nfld., Langdon is the nephew of another Newfoundlander in former NHL bruiser Darren Langdon who played parts of 11 NHL seasons spent largely with the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes. Langdon registered 33 points (21-12–33) in as many games this season.
• Saginaw Spirit second round (33rd overall) pick Ethan Cardwell of the Clarington Toros comes from a hockey family. His grandfather Steve played two seasons for the Oshawa Generals from 1968-70 before a brief NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Father Matt and uncle Justin both played in the pro ranks as well. A product of Courtice, Ont., Cardwell put up 30 goals along with 24 assists for 54 points in 35 games for Clarington this season.
• 2018 OHL Cup powered by Under Armour MVP Dylan Robinson of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens was a second round (28th overall) pick by the Oshawa Generals. Robinson is the younger brother of recent OHL graduate Brandon Robinson (2011-16) who played five seasons between Brampton, North Bay and Kitchener after being the Battalion’s first round (7th overall) pick in 2011. He currently suits up for the Laurier Golden Hawks Men’s Hockey team.
• Homer Glen, IL native Gerard Keane was a third round (53rd overall) pick of the London Knights. The 5-foot-10 defenceman spent this past season with the Chicago Mission 16U program and is the younger brother of OHL Defenceman of the Year candidate Joey Keane of the Barrie Colts.
• The Peterborough Petes added a familiar name to their depth chart in third round (52nd overall) pick Jack Bar from the OMHA champion York Simcoe Express. The 6-foot-2, 175Ib. right-shot defenceman recorded 20 points (10-10–20) over 31 games this past season and is the son of former Petes defender Mark Bar (1985-88).
• Cambridge Hawks forward Cooper Walker was a fifth round (91st overall) selection of the Guelph Storm where his dad Scott serves as co-owner. Scott Walker coached the Storm to an OHL Championship in 2014 following a 14-year NHL career. Walker also played two OHL seasons with the Owen Sound Platers from 1991-93. The younger Walker, a 5-foot-8.5 centreman, recorded 27 points (10-17–27) over 30 games in the ALLIANCE circuit.
• The Oshawa Generals selected a familiar name in Matthew DeBoer with their sixth round (117th overall) pick. The son of San Jose Sharks head coach and former 2003 Mastercard Memorial Cup champion Peter DeBoer, Matthew played for the Salisbury Prep Crimson Knights this past season. Older brother Jack DeBoer was a second round pick of the Gens in 2016. In addition to coaching the Plymouth Whalers and Kitchener Rangers, Peter DeBoer also played in the OHL, winning a league championship with the Windsor Spitfires in 1988.
• The Saginaw Spirit selected Detroit Little Caesars 15U winger Kienan Draper with the eighth round (145th overall) pick. He’s the son of four-time Stanley Cup champion and Ottawa 67’s (1990-91) graduate Kris Draper. The younger Draper recorded 72 points (31-41–72) over 57 games with Little Caesars this past season.
• Eleventh round (202nd 0verall) pick Owen Holmes will join older brother Hunter Holmes in the Flint Firebirds organization. Like his brother, the younger Holmes is a product of the Niagara North Stars program and registered 25 points (9-16–25) in 32 games this season.
• The son of another NHLer, London Knights 11th round (214th overall) choice Grant Eastwood posted 21 points (9-12–21) over 37 games with the Smiths Falls Bears Midgets. Eastwood’s father Mike played parts of 13 NHL seasons between 1991-2004. He also served as an assistant coach with the Ottawa 67’s from 2014-17.
• The Sarnia Sting selected St. Andrew’s College blueliner Grayson Arnott with the 11th round (219th overall) pick. He’s the nephew of 18-year NHL vet and Oshawa Generals graduate Jason Arnott who won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2000. Arnott recorded 19 points (2-17–19) in 44 games from the back end this season.
• The Saginaw Spirit added another familiar name on draft day, picking Carolina Jr. Hurricanes forward Ryan Vellucci with the 13th round (245th overall) pick. He’s the son of two-time OHL Coach of the Year and 2007 OHL Champion Mike Vellucci who is currently the assistant general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes and head coach of the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Vellucci played two OHL seasons with the Belleville Bulls from 1983-86.
• The Ottawa 67’s chose forward Nicholas Chmelevski with the 13th round (246th overall) pick. The younger brother of 67’s leading scorer and San Jose Sharks prospect Sasha Chmelevski, Nicholas had three goals, 14 assists and 17 points in 20 games with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies 15U team this season.
• The 14th round (265th overall) pick belonged to the Saginaw Spirit and they selected defenceman John Opilka from the St. Louis Blues 15U team. He’s the younger brother of recent Kitchener Rangers graduate and St. Louis Blues prospect Luke Opilka who tended the crease for the Blueshirts from 2015-17.
• The Sarnia Sting selected defenceman Isaiah Baptiste from the Nepean Raiders U18 team with the 14th round (279th overall) pick. He’s the younger brother of former Sudbury Wolves and Erie Otters forward Nick Baptiste who spent part of this season with the Buffalo Sabres.